Who is Ksenia Karelina? American ballerina jailed in Russia over $52 donation, freed in Trump-led swap

American ballerina Ksenia Karelina , who was held in a Russian prison for over a year on treason charges, met President Donald Trump following her return to the United States. Her case drew widespread condemnation from human rights groups and US officials, who labelled the charges “absolutely ludicrous.”

Karelina, a 32-year-old dual US-Russian citizen, was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February 2024 after reportedly donating just over $50 to a US-based charity that supported Ukraine. The Russian authorities accused her of aiding a foreign country against Russia’s interests—a charge that led to her conviction for treason.

President @realDonaldTrump meets with Ksenia Karelina, American ballerina freed from Russian prison 🙏🏼🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/SQajPB2Far

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 5, 2025

Her release came as part of a carefully brokered exchange involving Arthur Petrov, a Russian-German man who had been detained in the US for attempting to smuggle restricted microelectronics to Russia. The swap took place in Abu Dhabi and included rare direct coordination between Russian and American intelligence and diplomatic services.

President Trump confirmed her release and said, “They released the young ballerina and she is now out, and that was good. So we appreciate that.” He later met with Karelina, an encounter that symbolised the second successful prisoner swap since Trump returned to office and resumed diplomatic engagement with Moscow.

Her fiancé, professional boxer Chris van Heerden, expressed relief, saying she had “endured a nightmare for 15 months.” He thanked Trump, the CIA, and figures like UFC president Dana White, who reportedly raised the case with the president directly. CIA Director John Ratcliffe credited US intelligence officers for their behind-the-scenes efforts, highlighting the importance of communication channels between Washington and Moscow.

Who is Ksenia Karelina?

• Ksenia Karelina is a 32-year-old dual citizen of the United States and Russia.
• She was born in Russia but had been living in Los Angeles, where she worked in the beauty industry.
• Before moving to the US, she was a professional ballerina and lived in Maryland for some time.
• In early 2024, she travelled to Russia to visit her family and was arrested by Russian authorities.
• She was charged with treason after allegedly donating about $52 to a US-based charity that supported Ukraine.
• Russian officials claimed the donation amounted to support for the Ukrainian military, though human rights groups said the charge was based solely on that one donation.
• The US condemned the charges as politically driven and called the accusations “absolutely ludicrous.”
• Karelina’s fiancé, boxer Chris van Heerden, thanked President Trump and his team for helping to bring her home.
• Van Heerden described her ordeal as a “15-month nightmare” and said their dog, Boots, was also waiting for her.
• Karelina had been held in Yekaterinburg, a Russian city known for detaining foreign nationals.
• Her release came as part of a prisoner swap in which she was exchanged for Arthur Petrov, a Russian-German man convicted of smuggling in the US.